Thus far the butchers.  Soon afterwards came sixteen colonels of militia, as representatives of their branch of the multiform government.  These personages, attended by many officers of inferior degree, sustained the position of the butchers with many voluble and vehement arguments.  Not the least convincing of their conclusions was the assurance that it would be idle for the authorities to attempt the destruction of the dyke, seeing that the municipal soldiery itself would prevent the measure by main force, at all hazards, and without regard to their own or others’ lives.

The violence of this opposition, and the fear of a serious internecine conflict at so critical a juncture, proved fatal to the project.  Much precious time was lost, and when at last the inhabitants of the city awoke from their delusion, it was to find that repentance, as usual, had come many hours too late.

For Parma had been acting while his antagonists had been wrangling.  He was hampered in his means, but he was assisted by what now seems the incredible supineness of the Netherlanders.  Even Sainte Aldegonde did not believe in the possibility of erecting the bridge; not a man in Antwerp seemed to believe it.  “The preparations,” said one who lived in the city, “went on before our very noses, and every one was ridiculing the Spanish commander’s folly.”

A very great error was, moreover, committed in abandoning Herenthals to the enemy.  The city of Antwerp governed Brabant, and it would have been far better for the authorities of the commercial capital to succour this small but important city, and, by so doing, to protract for a long time their own defence.  Mondragon saw and rejoiced over the mistake.  “Now ’tis easy to see that the Prince of Orange is dead,” said the veteran, as he took possession, in the Icing’s name, of the forsaken Herenthals.

Early in the summer, Parma’s operations had been, of necessity, desultory.  He had sprinkled forts up and down the Scheldt, and had gradually been gaining control of the navigation upon that river.  Thus Ghent and Dendermonde, Vilvoorde, Brussels, and Antwerp, had each been isolated, and all prevented from rendering mutual assistance.  Below Antwerp, however, was to be the scene of the great struggle.  Here, within nine miles of the city, were two forts belonging to the States, on opposite sides of the stream, Lille, and Liefkenshoek.  It was important for the Spanish commander to gain possession of both; before commencing his contemplated bridge.

Unfortunately for the States, the fortifications of Liefkenshoek, on the Flemish side of the river, had not been entirely completed.  Eight hundred men lay within it, under Colonel John Pettin of Arras, an old patriotic officer of much experience.  Parma, after reconnoitring the place in person, despatched the famous Viscount of Ghent—­now called Marquis of Roubaix and Richebourg—­to carry it by assault.  The Marquis sent one hundred men from his Walloon legion, under two officers, in whom he had confidence, to attempt a surprise, with orders, if not successful, to return without delay.  They were successful.  The one hundred gained entrance into the fort at a point where the defences had not been put into sufficient repair.